Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ronald (The Family)

After reading out loud her story “The Big Earthquake” about Japan’s tsunami (check out the previous blog post), Beatrice pulled out the poem below, written by her son Ronald a few years ago. I remembered it right away. That familiar page of lines loaded up so much wisdom, so much reality, so much love. I remembered it because Beatrice had actually brought this poem to class back in 2009 or early 2010 when our class was still tiny, maybe with four or five regular members. I feel like back then, she brought it in to show us what a beautiful poem her son wrote, as a way to introduce us to her very family. But this time around, she requested that I make a copy for everyone in our class – which now has a roster of over 50 seniors and 20 teens – she didn’t have to say why. Because WE are a family now.

Ronald Newkirk (Beatrice’s son)
Shared in class 3/17/2011
The Family

When it’s family,
you forgive them for they know not what they do

When it’s family,
you accept them, ‘cause you have no choice but to.

When it’s family,
they’re a mirror of the worst and best in you.

And when they always put you to the test and
you always do you best, and just pray for GOD to
do the rest.

When it’s family,
some are preachers, some are gays, some are addicts,
drunks and strays, but none are turned away.

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Lovingly narrated by Best Day Founder Benita Cooper and our Philadelphia Senior Center group's Lead Facilitator Caitlin Cieri, this blog is our invitation to you to hear the stories told every week at the first ever Best Day group, which began meeting at a borrowed basement office in 2009, and has inspired satellite groups across the country. Click to see how a phone call with her grandma inspired Benita to build our organization.

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